Scotland, or "the land of the Scots", is home to many famous people and poets, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the infamous Sherlock Holmes novels. In addition to novels, published poetry is very influential and astute. “The River of Life,” by Thomas Campbell, is an example. This poem follows a rhythmic pattern ABABCDCDEFEFGHBIJIGIGI for the entire poem. The pattern, however, changes towards the end. “The River of Life” is a poem that mainly describes life and time. It describes the stages of life, childhood, middle age, old age, all thanks to the slow but fast passage of time. Youth is confronted first, then old age comes. Death and sadness are woven throughout the poem, being the focus of the mention of old age. Ultimately, the poem refers to the sky that controls the years between old age and young age. This is another "stereotypical" but sensible poem. This poem has a total of 7 stanzas and 24 lines. In the first stanza, the poem begins by talking about how the “subsequent stages of life” seem shorter as one lives longer. It expands in the next two lines by presenting a literary element: “A day to childhood seems like a year, / And the years like passing ages.” Childhood simply passes too quickly, or too slowly, as in the case of “passing ages” that last forever as a year passes in childhood. The theme of childhood carries over into the next stanza, as Campbell compares youth to a stream and a river. “Passion and disorder” creep along the “grassy borders”, remaining in equal measure in the transition from childhood to adulthood. The transformation is elaborated in the third stanza when “the careless cheek turns pale / And the arrows of sorrow fly thicker.” Sorrows come in abundance as the happy, carefree person grows up... middle of paper... has their first birthday, whatever comes first. The poem then comes to life, as people age and their children grow up to start a new generation; they are then left alone while their closest friends die around them. This also applies to older adults who feel like life moves too quickly and want death to come later or sooner. From a personal point of view, this poem is another classic to be read and savored by all. Although it is just another one of “those poems,” it is well written and relevant to life. The one line and tone barely eliminate the “feel” of the poem. All people should be aware that nothing can be done to slow down time. Heaven controls all years, from old age to youth, and deals with emotions accordingly. People interested in life, and especially psychologists, would enjoy reading “The River of Life” by Thomas Campbell.